Hydraulic jet control



May 21, 1968 K. HANLEY 3,384,306

HYDRAULIC JET CONTROL Filed March 28. 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 l l i I I v I l L J j INVENTOR REENAN HANLEY DECEASED BY MILDRED J. HANLEY FIG! ADMINISTRATTRIX ATTORNEYS May 21, 1968 HANLE'Y HYDRAULIC JET CONTROL 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 28. 1966 INVENTOR KEENAN HANLEY,

DECEASED .I'Z- BY MILDRED J- HANLEY ADMINISTRATRIX ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,384,306 HYDRAULIC JET CONTROL Keenan Hanley, deceased, late of Prospect, Ohio, by Mildred J. Hanley, administratrix, Prospect, Ohio, Zsfiiignor to Hanley Hydrojet, Inc., a corporation of Filed Mar. 28, 1966, Ser. No. 538,108 4 Claims. (Cl. 239-26527) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A nozzle carried on the end of a rearwardly directed, stern-mounted conduit is arranged to provide a controlled hydraulic thrust on a boat. The nozzle has both rearward and bottom exhaust openings. A gate is supported for movement between a raised position over the rearward exhaust opening so that pressurized water from the conduit is discharged rearwardly to develop a generally forward thrust on the boat, and a lowered position for either partially or fully restricting the flow of water through the rearward exhaust opening and for deflecting the water through the bottom opening to develop a rearwardly di rected thrust.

This invention relates to a control system for hydraulic jet propelled water craft, and more particularly to a thrust control device providing both directional control and speed control for such water craft and including a movable nozzle connected to the hydraulic jet discharge conduit having means associated therewith for varying the direction of the effective thrust imposed on the water craft and resulting from the reaction of the hydraulic discharge stream, and also including means associated with the nozzle for varying the magnitude of the effective thrust on the water craft.

Hydraulic jet propelled water craft are useful in a variety of applications where they have special advantages over propeller driven water craft. One of these advantages is that a jet propelled water craft normally has a much smaller underwater projection required by the dis charge nozzle than is normally required by the propeller of conventionally powered water craft. Thus there is less opportunity for underwater debris to jam the drive system. In addition, jet propelled water craft having a movable discharge nozzle normally do not require a rudder to control changes in their direction of movement. Another special advantage of hydraulic jet propelled water craft is their inherently quicker response to changes in the directional controls obtained by rotating the discharge nozzle to redirect the effective reaction thrust on the craft. In the case of a 180 degree reversal in the line of movement, conventional smaller propeller driven water craft cannot achieve a reverse thrust on the craft as can a jet propelled craft with a rotary nozzle or suitable reversing conduits.

The primary object of the present invention is to increase the utility of jet propelled marine craft or water craft by providing a novel form of discharge nozzle for producing the reactive thrust on the water craft. The improved discharge nozzle is adapted to be mounted on water craft which may be used for a variety of purposes such as pleasure craft, work barges, ferries, and the like. The preferred jet propelled water craft to which the improved nozzle control device is adapted employs a power means such as an internal combustion engine for driving a suitable pump, with the pump effective to pressurize water from an inlet conduit and to deliver the pressurized water to an outlet conduit at a greatly increased momentum. It is well known that the greatly increased momenturn of the water upon being discharged from the boat gives a thrust force or reaction on the water craft. The direction in which the water is discharged from the craft determines in which direction the efiective thrust will react on the craft, thereby assisting in propelling the craft and also in changing or determining the direction in which a craft will move. In order to control the direction of the reaction thrust on the water craft, I have provided the outlet conduit of the pump with an extension adapted to receive an exhaust nozzle pivotally mounted about a vertical axis. The extension conduit and the exhaust nozzle preferably are disposed rearwardly of the stern of the boat and thus minimize the projection of the unit below the boat even more so than the conventional rotatable hydraulic jet. The preferred exhaust nozzle may be rotated about a vertical axis to any selective position to direct the thrust either to port or to starboard as is desired. In effect, the improved exhaust nozzle provides an angular extension of the discharge conduit of the pump and thereby reduces the inherent losses in conventional hydraulic control systems by reducing the number of unnecessary bends to provide the necessary change in direction of the thrust.

The preferred exhaust nozzle has, in addition to a main discharge outlet, a second discharge outlet angularly disposed and downwardly directed from the main discharge outlet. A reversing gate valve is adapted to selectively obstruct the main discharge outlet and redirect the pressurized fluid stream through the secondary downwardly directed outlet. When the reversing valve partially obstructs the main outlet, two thrust forces react on the water craft, the first resulting from the discharge of the water through the main outlet and the second resulting from the discharge of water through the secondary outlet. The net elfective thrust on the boat is the resultant of the first and second thrust forces. The secondary thrust force will vary from a minimum when the reversing gate is completely open so as not to obstruct the first outlet to a maximum wherein the reversing gate completely obstructs the main outlet so that all of the discharging water is directed through the secondary outlet. Therefore, by manipulating the reversing gate valve, the craft can be propelled from full power in a forward direction to full power in a reverse direction. Intermediate the full forward and full reverse conditions is a stop condition wherein the resultant forces balance or cancel one another so that there is no effective thrust on the boat and the craft will maintain a static position in the water.

The exhaust nozzle by having a first outlet and a secondary outlet both provided in the same unit and disposed adjacent one another provides an efiicient unit that can be readily mounted to any conventional hydraulic jet propelled boat without requiring extensive modifications in the hull or the construction of any special conduits for directing the discharge as is the case with some conventional control systems for controlling the hydraulic jet stream.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a novel directional means for controlling the resultant jet thrust imposed upon a hydraulic jet propelled Water craft wherein the direction of movement of the craft can be controlled by providing an exhaust nozzle 3 having a first outlet rotatably mounted to the craft about a vertical axis to selectively discharge the pressurized jet stream in various directions on the horizontal plan.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a means for controlling the magnitude of the net thrust imposed on such water craft by providing the exhaust nozzle with a second reversing outlet, and the first outlet with a reversing gate adapted to selectively redirect the jet discharge through the reversing outlet so that two opposed discharge thrusts are generated, and the net thrust comprising the resultant of the two discharge thrusts.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a hydraulic jet control system comprising a relatively simple and efficient construction and readily adaptable for easy maintenance.

Still further objects and advantages of the present invention will readily occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention pertains upon reference to the follow ing detailed description and accompanying drawings in which FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a jet propelled boat illustrating a preferred embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an enlarged plan view of the preferred control device illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view as seen from line 33 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is a view as seen substantially from line 4--4 of FIG. 2, but with the gate in the lowered position.

Now referring to the drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates a pleasure craft type of boat 14 having an engine 12, preferably of the internal combustion type, and drivingly connected to a pump 14. The pump 14 has an inlet (not shown) for drawing water through the hull of the boat 10, pressurizing this water and delivering the pressurized water through a discharge conduit 16 to a jet discharge control system generally indicated at 18. Preferably the pump 14 is of the centrifugal type having the usual volute form and comprised of detachable sections to facilitate manufacture and assembly. The exact configuration of the engine and the pump is not of significance to this invention other than that the pump 14 receives a volume of water, greatly increases its momentum and discharges the water through the conduit 16 which extends past the stern and on the longitudinal centerline of the boat and below the normal waterline.

Referring to FIG. 2, the system 18 includes an extension conduit 20 fluidly connected to the discharge conduit 16 and disposed rearwardly thereof so that the water from the pump 14 flows in an uninterrupted passage through the extension conduit to an outlet 22 of conduit 20. It will be noted in FIGS. 2 and 3 that the cross sectional area of the conduit 20 narrows from the inlet of the conduit to the outlet. The extension conduit 20 has upper and lower flat bearing plates 24 and 26 respectively. FIG. 2 shows that the bearing plates and the conduit 20 have opposite rounded or arcuate side surfaces 28. The bearing plates 24 and 26 each respectively carry an upper pin 30 and a lower pin 32 aligned in a vertical axis. An outlet tube or nozzle 34 is movably mounted on the pins 32 and 30 so as to be rotatable around a vertical axis. Nozzle 34 is adapted to register with the outlet 22 of the conduit 20 in all positions of rotary disposition. For this reason, the nozzle 34 is larger at the inlet than the discharge condiut outlet 22 and is provided with packing 36 to fluidly seal the inner surfaces of the inlet of nozzle 34 and the outer surfaces of the outlet of extension 20.

In a preferred embodiment the nozzle 34 is adapted to be rotated approximately degrees on either side of the centerline of the boat 10. The thrust imposed on the nozzle is generally in a direction opposite to the direction of momentum of the discharging water. Therefore the direction of the thrust can be varied by rotating the nozzle 34 to redirect the discharging water. The noggle 34 is provided with suitable actuating linkage partly shown at 38 and operatively connected to a steering Wheel 40'. The linkage 38 is adapted so that when the steering wheel 40 is turned to the right, for example, the nozzle 34 will be rotated in a direction to deflect the stream of water being discharged through the passage 34 rightwardly at an angle with respect to the centerline of the boat such that the resulting reacting thrust will pivot the stern of the boat leftwardly and the bow in the direction of the desired line of movement. Likewise, if the steering wheel 40 is turned counterclockwise, the nozzle 34 will be rotated so that the water will discharge leftwardly of the longitudinal centerline of the boat, thereby creating a thrust on the stem of the boat 10 in a rightwardly direction such that the boat will be pivoted toward a direction leftwardly of its original line of motion.

Now referring to FIG. 2, a reverse outlet 42 is provided in the nozzle 34 and is adapted to receive water directed therein and deliver this water generally in a downwardly and opposite direction from the outlet of the nozzle 34. It can be seen that the reverse outlet 42 provides a secondary outlet and is adapted to discharge water in a direction to clear the bottom of the boat 10. The reverse outlet 42 is fixed to the underside of nozzle 34 preferably by threaded fasteners 44 such that the rotation of the nozzle 34 will also rotate the reverse outlet 42.

A gate 46, shown in FIGS. 2-4 is pivotally attached to the nozzle 34 by studs 47 and movable about a horizontal axis such that it can be selectively and slidably disposed between a first position wherein it completely clears the outlet of nozzle 34 and a second position wherein it completely blocks the outlet of the nozzle 34. In the first position, gate 46 is raised over nozzle 34 by a control linkage 48 such that in order to block the outlet of nozzle 34, the gate 46 is rotated downwardly until it seats in lip 49 in the fully closed or second position.

Referring now to FIG. 3, it can be seen that when the gate 46 is open, the nozzle 34 permits the complete fluid jet to exhaust rearwardly. However, as the gate 46 is lowered, it will redirect part of the fiuid stream through the reverse outlet 42 so that a second thrust is set up on the nozzle 34. As the gate is lowered still further, the secondary thrust becomes greater until the gate 46 is in an intermediate position whereby the reversing thrust will substantially balance the forward thrust such that the two thrusts cancel each other and the net effect is that the boat will be in a static condition; that is, it will not move in the water. As the gate 46 is lowered further, the reversing thrust will overcome the forward thrust such that the resultant net effective thrust will impart a rearward motion to the boat. When the gate 46 has completely lowered, it can be seen it will deflect the entire output of the pump 14 through the reversing outlet 42 and the full reversing thrust will be imparted on the gate 46. Packing 36 is provided between the inner surfaces of the reversing gate 46 and the bearing surfaces of the nozzle 34. In orderto assist the gate 46 in moving upwardly, the nozzle 34 has an arcuate guide plate 50 which assists in supporting the gate 46 in its upward or open position. The linkage 48 for raising and lowering the gate 46 into and out of position is connected by suitable linkage (not shown) to control levers suitably positioned in the how of the boat.

From the above detailed description, it will be apparent that to propel the boat 10 in a forward direction with the unit of the present invention, the gate 46 is completely raised to expose the rearward discharge opening of nozzle 34. The pump discharges a stream of water which creates a forward thrust on the boat 10. If it is desired to travel straight ahead, the nozzle 34 is aligned with the centerline of the boat, but if it is desired to change the direction of movement, then the nozzle 34 is rotated to discharge the pressurized water to port or to starboard as the case may be.

Whenever it is desired to propel the boat rearwardly, the reversing gate 46 is either partially or fully closed. If the gate valve 46 is partly open, the dual thrust forces are created and depending upon whether the rearward thrust or the forward thrust prevails, the boat will either move forward or rearwardly. If the two thrusts balance, the boat will assume a static position in the water. A proper gate adjustment will therefore provide a selected speed control.

It will be apparent from the above description that the present improved hydraulic jet propulsion control system can be built as a unit and attached to standard hydraulic jet propelled boats or other water craft or vehicles without requiring extensive modifications thereto, a feature not available 'with conventional hydraulic control systems.

While I have described but one preferred embodiment of the present invention, it will be obvious that various changes can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a boat having pump means for delivering water under pressure, a hydraulic thrust and directional control system, comprising:

(a) a main conduit having a water delivery passage with a forward end and an outlet, said main conduit being fixedly mounted on said boat so that said forward end receives pressurized water from said pump means and delivers the pressurized water through said outlet along an axis parallel to the longitudinal centerline of the boat, said conduit being formed of a pair of sidewalls joined by parallel upper and lower flat bearing plates, said sidewalls having partially cylindrical, convex bearing surfaces formed about a first axis, said first axis being perpendicular to said upper and lower bearing plates and intersecting the longitudinal axis of said conduit;

(b) first pivot means mounted on said upper and lower bearing plates;

(c) a nozzle mounted on said main conduit by said first pivot means for limited lateral pivotal movement about said first axis, the forward end of said nozzle means being slideably, sealingly engaged with the convex bearing surfaces and the upper and lower bearing plates of said main conduit in all lateral positions, said nozzle having a pair of exhaust opening means rearward of said main conduit outlet, the first of said exhaust openings being disposed in the undefiected path of the pressurized water discharged from said main conduit outlet and the second of said exhaust openings being formed in the bottom of said nozzle and out of the undefiected path of pressurized water discharged from said main conduit outlet;

((1) a reverse conduit means mounted on said nozzle for delivering pressurized water received by the second of said exhaust openings in a generally downward and reverse direction with respect to the discharge of water through the first of said exhaust openings, said reverse conduit means being eifective to develop a rearward thrust on said boat;

(e) second pivot means mounted on said nozzle;

(f) a gate externally mounted on said nozzle by said second pivot means for movement about an axis perpendicular to said first axis and transversely to the longitudinal axis of said nozzle, said gate being slideably movable between a raised position above the first of said exhaust openings to permit pressurized water discharged from said main conduit outlet to develop a forward thrust on said boat when said nozzle is in a center position with respect to said conduit, and a lowered position for at least partially closing off said first nozzle opening and for deflecting water discharged from said main conduit outlet toward said second exhaust opening.

2. The invention as defined in claim 1, wherein the transverse cross-section of the water delivery passage in said main conduit is reduced in the direction of water movement.

3. The invention as defined in claim 1, wherein said first pivot means are mounted on the upper and lower bearing plates of said main conduit a distance from said main conduit less than the radius of said cylindrical convex bearing surfaces.

4. The invention as defined in claim 1, wherein the partially cylindrical convex bearing surfaces of said main conduit terminate rearwardly at said main conduit outlet.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,064,420 11/1962 Goehler 239-26527 3,093,966 '6/1963 Englehart et a1. 239-265.27 3,143,857 8/1964 Eaton 239'-587 X 3,207,116 9/1965 France 239265.35 X 3,250,475 5/1966 Smith 239265.27 3,266,733 8/1966 Goehler 239265.27

M. HENSON WOOD, 1a., Primary Examiner.

VAN C. WILKS, Assistant Examiner. 

